All the Who's Who Showed Up, and How!

The Scene: The incandescent peak of what an Oscar party should be--Graydon Carter's Vanity Fair shindig at Mortons. It was packed, it took forever to get in, and it was worth the wait.

Who Was There: Short of having the Chinese Politburo and the British royal family, about as eclectic a mix of Who's Who as can be stuffed in one room--Madonna, Barry Diller, Brad Pitt, David Hockney, Martin Scorsese, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Internet gossip columnist Matt Drudge, Warren Beatty, Barbara Davis, Tara Lipinski, Ron Perelman, Oliver Stone, Joni Mitchell and Jerry Seinfeld.

The Secret of Getting In: "I subscribe to the magazine," said Jay Leno. "So I get the tote bag and the invitation to the party."

Most Premature Complaint: The guest who said, "Already it's a dull show" at 5:30 p.m. while watching the TV stations beam arrivals.

Post-Show Complaint: The show's length. Many compared it to a telethon. When James Cameron ended his best picture acceptance speech with "and party 'till dawn," Steve Tisch looked at his watch and said, "Dawn is soon."

So You'll Be Seeing It Again?: "I saw 'Titanic,' " said David Hockney. "I'm deaf so I didn't hear the dialogue. I'm told it didn't matter."

The Margaret Mead Memorial Journey: For the last few years, veteran New York writer Fran Lebowitz has made her annual trip to L.A. for this party. "I think it's the exact opposite of a spiritual pilgrimage," she said. "I see it as more anthropological."